Overview

• Former Guatemalan Interior Minister Napoléon Barrientos was arrested for allegedly not carrying out his duties when he chose dialogue over force to remove protesters.
• Barrientos resigned in October amidst nationwide protests aimed at forcing the resignation of Attorney General Consuelo Porras.
• The protests were in response to Porras' perceived persecution of President-elect Bernardo Arévalo, his party, and electoral officials.
• Barrientos' arrest comes just days before Arévalo is scheduled to be sworn in as Guatemala’s next president.
• Porras' office has a number of open investigations against Arévalo and his party, which have been criticized as politically motivated.